Amusement device



Aug. 27, 1940. J. A LA ELLE 2,212,781

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STAT 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to amusement devices and more particularly to toy vehicles. The primary. object of the invention resides in the provision of a toy vehicle which is formed as a representation of a horse or other animal, adapted to be propelled by a forward and backward rocking motion of the occupant of the vehicle.

Another object'of the invention resides in the provision of a toy vehicle simulating a horse or other animal that is propelled by a forward and backward rocking motion of the occupant of the Vehicle, the toy embodying flexible leg joints conveyin'g the illusion of a running horse or other animal.

A further object is the provision of a toy of this character which includes a triangular-shaped wheel supported frame upon which is rockably mounted a platform, said platform being connected through a crank and lever with a chain and sprocket-driving means, whereby a rocking motion of the platform by the occupant of the toy causes rotation of the driving means to propel the toy.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a toy including a triangular-shaped frame having the characteristics described, the toy representing a horse or other animal, in which levers extend from parts of the frame and are connected to flexible leg joints of the toy to convey the illusion of a running horse or other animal as it is propelled by the occupant.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toy vehicle constructed in accordance wth the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the tridlcated at i. It is to. be understood that the toy may be formed to represent a horseor any other animal which it may be desired to simulate, the.

legs of which are flexibly mounted on pivots 8, and 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3 of;

the drawing, it will be noted that theframe includes a rear forked section Ill comprising angularly spaced leg members it and 12 one end of which is mounted in a centrally disposed socket it and the other ends attached to and-support therebetween an axle M. The front section of the frame includes a single leg member 55 pref-1 erably shorter in length than the leg members ii and i2 and adapted to support a steering mechanism generally indicated at it, said leg. members being also mounted in the socket 13..

G-romid-engaging wheels H are mounted on the axle M. and a single ground-engaging wheel i8 is carried by the front leg member I5; Thus it will be seen that the frame I is supported 'on wheels carried thereby so as to be freely moved when propelled by the occupant.

The propelling mechanism includes a sprocket 59 mounted on the axle id for rotation therewith and substantially centrally of the pair of ground-engaging wheels H. A second toothed sprocket 28 substantially greater in diameter than the sprocket i9, is keyed to a crankshaft 2i rotatably held between the upper ends of the leg members i l and I2. It is to be understood that suitable bearings may be employed for the sprockets l9 and 2d. 1

A platform 22 is rockably supported between the extending ears 23 of the socket l3, said platform being pivotally mounted therein by means of the pin 25. The platform 22 is connected to the sprocket Zfi'and crankshaft 2i through the medium of the lever 25 and crank arm 26, said lever being connected at 27! to the platform 22 and the crank arm connected at 28 to the crankshaft El, said lever and crank arm being pivotally connected together at 29. It will be readily apparent that a forward and backward rocking motion of the platform 22 on its pivot 24 will actuate the lever 25 and crank arm 25 to effect rotation, of the crankshaft 2i and its associated sprocket 20 which through the medium of the chain 39 trained over the-respective sprockets will cause rotation of the axle M for propelling the vehicle.

to convey the illusion of a running horse or the like. This illusionis accomplished by levers at-' toothed tached to the front and rear flexibly mounted legs of the horse. A pair of levers 3! is pivotally attached at 32 to the leg member l5 of the frame 1 and the opposite ends of said levers are secured at 33 to the front legs of the animal. A similar pair of levers 34 is pivotally attached at 35 to each respective rear leg member H and I2 of the frame I and the opposite ends of said levers are attached at 36 to the rear legs of the animal. The rocking motion imparted to the animal will cause the front and rear legs of the animal to move about their pivots 8 and 9 and in conjunction with the levers 3i and 34, respectively, will be caused to swing thus conveying the illusion of a running horse.

Means is also provided for steering the Vehicle, said means including a tubular member 31 welded or otherwise secured at 38 to the frame I said tube carrying a sprocket 39 in which is suitably mounted the front ground-engaging wheel I8. A relatively fiat steering rod 40 projects from the member 31 and is supported in a relatively flat space 4| formed in the body of the horse. The neck 42 of the horse has a flexible connection 43 with the body of the horse and by engaging the handle members 44 projecting on each side of the neck it will be turned carrying with it the flat steering rod for altering the direction of the travel of the wheel !8. The manner in which the steering rod 40 is associated with the space 4| is more clearly illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawing.

To complete the simulation, a saddle and stirrups generally indicated at 45 may be disposed on the back of the horse and directly above and in contact with the platform 22.

dium of the lever and crank arm 25 and 26, respectively, to propel the vehicle. As the vehicle is propelled, there will be conveyed the illusion of a running horse since the front and rear legs of said horse will swing about their pivots 8 and 9, respectively, through the medium of the connecting leg levers 3| and 34, respectively.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A toy of the character described comprising, a substantially triangular-shaped supporting frame having the representation of a toy horse or the like attached thereto and including pivotally mounted front and rear legs, said frame comprising front and rear sections carrying ground-engaging wheels, propelling means associated with said pair of ground-engaging wheels, a platform rockably mounted substantially centrally of said frame, means for connecting said platform with said propelling means, to actuate said propelling means upon rocking said platform, a pair of levers having one end pivotally attached to said rear section and connected to said rear legs, and a second pair of levers having one end pivotally attached to said front section and connected to said front legs, whereby said legs will swing about their pivots upon propelling said toy by actuation of said platform.

JOSEPH A. LA BILLE. 

